David,
That's a very traditional sort of a use of pig's blood in Italy, to use it in a sweet with chocolate. Back in the day, my grandmother regularly made the traditional Neapolitan/Campanian sweet with pig's blood in the winter... and I believe the fellow who was responsible for the cake in question sports an Italian name, so I assume he was just drawing on our ancient and glorious tradition... allora, in ogni caso, non è una novità... e quello che fece mia nonna era saporito assaie...
A
Alle Nerven exzitiert von dem gewürzten Wein -- Anwandlung von Todesahndungen -- Doppeltgänger --
- aus dem Tagebuch E.T.A. Hoffmanns, 6. Januar 1804.
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Na sir is na seachain an cath.